Electric relay system



Aug. 8, 1944.

c. P. CLARE ELECTRIC RELAY SYSTEM Filed Jan. 4, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nw@ l INVENToR @auf n, (ya ma,

Aug 8, 1944- c. P. CLARE 2,355,055'

ELECTRIC RELAY SYSTEM I a .54 72 15/ 5a 82 4/ 5` w (9.9 4.9 E 52a 65a 76 l45 43,8 -IZ 5 7% J5 4f 44 p3 @f Patented Aug. 8, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE ELECTRIC RELAYSYSTEM C'arl P. Clare, Arlington Heights, IIL, assigner to C. P. Clare and of Illinois Application January` 4, 1941,

I 9 claims. (crm-353) My invention relates broadly to remote control systems and more particularly to an electric relaysystem for use in remote controlsystems.

One of the objects-of my invention is to provide an electric relay system for operation in a remote control system by which various circuit permutations and combinations may be effected and in addition a repeating warning signal may be controlled by the relaysystem.

Another object ofmy invention is'to provide an electric relay system including a solenoid and moving armature system adapted to control a multiplicity of sets of spring contacts, one set of which is arranged in the control circuit to the solenoid winding and in which the armature is characterized by such inertia that combined mechanical and electrical forces are employed to eiect repeated make and break operations of the sets of spring contacts for electing the transmission of a warning signal of predetermined characteristic.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of electric relay employing a `solenoid winding and a weighted armature having means for imparting make and breakl movement to a multiplicityiof sets of spring contact members ina spring pile-up Where one of the sets of contact membersris arranged in series with the control circuit to the solenoid winding and the inertia of the Weighted armature employed for limiting the movement of the armature with respect to the spring pile-up to repeated short strokes for impressing a warning signal of predetermined characteristics from a source to a control circuit through other sets of the springv solenoid winding to cause rapid repeat movements of the armature and corresponding rapid make and break operations of the sets of-contact members, and certain of which control lthe application of a power source of predetermined characteristic to a control circuit.

A still further object of my invention resides in lthe method of controlling the operation of an electric relay system which consists in introducing anY opposing field into the field of the winding of the relay means for controlling the `elec- Co., Chicago,` Ill., a corporation v Serial No. 373,173 Y trical time period of Voperation of the armature and controlling the inertia of the armature for mechanically controlling themovement thereof whereby a spring pile-'up system may be operated by the movement of the armature at a predetermined` rate for correspondingly controlling an electrical system throughA the make and break operations thereof. I j

Another object of my invention is to provide an electricrelay system including a controlling winding, a movable armature and a spring pileup assembly in which the voperate time is both electricallyV and mechanically controlled so Vthat a series of Vshort strokes may be imparted to the spring pile-up assembly upon application of a continuous current to the relay winding for controlling through the spring pile-up assembly the repeated application of the control current to the controlled circuit. 4

' Still another object of my invention is to provide an electric relay system including an operating winding, a movable armature and a spring pile-upassembly having means for normally eX- erting a restoring force on the movable armature, yand including means for electrically controlling the operate time of thewinding and mechanical- -ly controlling the inertia of the movable armature so that the flux cycle inthe magnetic parts may be regulated to control atl comparatively high speed the operation of the'spring pile-up assembly upon application of a continuous vcurrent to the relay winding for controlling through the pile-up assembly the application of current of predetermined characteristic to a control circuit. t

Otherrand further objects of my invention reside in an arrangement of electric relay system having means for controlling the operate; and release time of the magnetic system of the relay -as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic wiring diagram showing one application of the electric relay system `of my invention to a remote control system of a radio transmitter whereby a warning signal may be transmitted from theradio transmitter to signify the commencement of a broadcast; Fig. 2 shows .a characteristic curve for an electric relay system in which the electricaloperating time of `the relay system is regulated in accordance with lthe principles of my invent-ion; Fig. 3^shows -a vcharacteristic ,curve in which both the electrical and mechanical characteristicsof the relay sys- .tem are controlled forsecuring the repeat signal operation required as a warning signal in the remote control system illustrated in Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a side elevational view showing the construction of the electric relay employed in the electric relay system of my invention, parts being broken away and illustrated in section for more clearly illustrating my invention, the view being shown with the armature in normal position with a normal restoring force exerted thereonby the spring pile-up; Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the electric relay system illustrated in Fig. 4 showing the armature moved to operate position and illustrating the displacement of the contact members under control of the movement of the'armature; Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the electric rethe circuit over line I3 for transmitting impulses to the controlled station. At the controlled stalay illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5;.'Fjg 7.15 a Verga;-

tical transverse sectional view taken on line 'I-l of Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a vertical transversesectional view taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. if Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating-'the' weighted armature,the lever arm associated therewith andthe bearing for pivotally mounting the armature; and Fig. 10 is a schematic view showing the electrical self-interrupting circuit arrangement of the electric relay system and illustrating the means for both electrically and mechanically controlling the` operating time of the relay for correspondingly controlling the op eration of the spring .contacts of the spring pile-up.

My invention provides a method of remote control for a radio broadcast transmitter or other signalling system for transmitting a warning signal in advance of a broadcast. The system of my invention is particularly' applicable in aircraft traflic control and navigation systems in which an operator in a remote position with re.-

spect to a transmitting ground station is required to notify aircraft that a broadcast is about to commence. The operator in the remote control station may dial a particular digit on the remote control mechanism at the control station and then hold down the signalling key and in accordance with the system of my invention effect the transmission of warning signals at a rate of approximatelyrv eight per second on any selected audio tone frequency such as 1,020 cycles. The warning signals at 1,020 cycles are transmitted so long as the control operator holds the control key closed, thereby advising the pilots of airi craft that a broadcast is about to commence. This method of transmission has proven highly effective in the transmission of weather, emergency, Ytrailic and other information to aircraft in a particular area. However, my invention is not limited to this particular application and is applicable to signalling systems generally in which a calling signal of predetermined characteristic is to be transmitted in advance lof the signalling operation. My invention also hasfapplication to the transmission ofsignals of particular tones for controllingof` start-stop functions for the motor circuitsv of facsimile and printing telegraph systems and for the starting and stopping of the auxiliary control circuits of television equipment by remote` control.

Referring to the drawings Vindetail, Ihave illustrated a remote control system of general application in which in Fig. 1 the equipment at the remote control station is designated generally kat II while the equipmentat the transmitting station is indicated generally by reference character I 2 Vwith the line system y I 3 interconnecting the stations. An alternating currentsupply circuit has been illustrated `generally at..l4 coupled Voted at 4l. ,"The'armature 46 has an operating leverfarm 449' integral therewith which controls frs vnetA I0 through intermediate relay B-4I96 to actuate the lstepping switch 2I-22 the specic i'numberllof steps corresponding to the impulses transmitted from the dial through any suitable range'such as I', 2'-30. Relay B-4I96 and a kcut-out relay D- -4I 96 areboth of a slow release type. The intermediate relay B-4I96 due to its slow release-,action remains operated after its .circuit is first closed, thus holding its contacts 2-3 closed. .After the last impulse from the dial, relayD-4I96, which operated on the first impulse from relay A-4I96 and remains operated during the series of impulsestransmitted from the dial, restores and closes a circuit from positive on contact 2 ofv relay A--4I9I to the 'primary relay associated with the last stepping relay step. Relay A--4I96 remains energized 'so long as key I8 remains in dial position after the 'series'of impulses has been transmitted, in order to maintain the selected primary relay energiz'ed.'V I. v

This primary relay operates to close a circuit .to the desired control which is required. This control may be lthe closing of certain amplifier circuits or `other 'desired switching operations. In the particular system illustrated, I have shown `the broadcast transmitter as comprising a modulation system 29, an oscillator 3|, a power amplier -32 and an antenna system 33. A modula- 'tion'control circuit 28 extends to the modulator 29 and a local microphone 34 is provided in this circuit for any local -control which may be required. An audio frequency transformer 21 has 4its secondarywinding connected to modulation circuit 28 and its primary winding connected to the leaf springs 25 and 26 of the spring pile-up the contacts 4 and 6 of the contact assembly 23 of relay B-4I96. In the opposite position, leaf 'springsl and 26 connect respectively with contacts 3l' and 38 leading to the tone frequency source under control of the relay system 42 of my invention. f The relay 42 comprises the magnetic core 44,' the operating winding 43, the slow operate slug v45 forelectrically controlling the operating timeof the', relay and theV armature 46 pivtheloperation of the spring pile-up shown at 50.

The armature 46 has the inertia device 48 attached theretofor mechanically controlling the operating time of the relay. The spring pile-up 50 includes leaf springs 5I, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56.

v'The leaf springs 5I-52 carry contacts 5Ia and .52m-which are Nelectrically connected in series .with the c ontrollwinding 43 and with the power source through contact spring 4!! and coacting contact 4I of auxiliary relay 39. The relay 42 is thus self-interrupting through the cooperation of contacts 51a and 52a in the current path to the relay winding 43 at a rate of time depending -upon the coaction of the inertia of armature 46 due to the added mass 48 and the influence of the eddy current eld produced by slug V45 upon the normal field of winding 43.` A suitable source of alternating current having a tonefrequency, for example, of 1020 cycles lis connected at'51 to primary windingl 58 of transformer 59, whose secondary winding 60 is connected to leaf springs 54 and 5S of spring pile-up 59. The movable Contact springs 52, 53 and 55 are interconnected through bushings of insulation material indicated at 6| and 62 so that movement of lever arm 49 moves leaf spring 52 to 4open contacts ta and 52a while leaf springs 53` and 55 move to positions in whichgcontacts 53al` and 55a establish connection with contacts 54a and 56a, respectively, thus closing the circuit from secondary winding 68 of transformer 59 to the contacts 31 and 38 of spring pile-up 24 of auxiliary relay 39. I have schematically illustrated the primary relays of the remote control system at E-MSB and F-4I95 and the secondary relays at G-4l98- I have schematically shown the several contacts and leaf springs for the several relays and-control apparatus at I, 2, 3, 4, 5, B, 1, 8 and 9 with polarities indicated to aid in tracing the circuits of the control system.

In the instant case assume that it is desired to broadcast a certain message. The operator moves key I8 to dial position i3 and dials the digit 3 which causes the stepping switch 2l--22 to step to its third contacts, and relay A-IHQG to remain energized afterward. Relay D-4l96 on restoring after the third impulse closes a circuit to primary relay 3. Primary relay 3 closes a circuit to the auxiliary relay 39 which transfers the circuit from contacts 23 leading to the modulation channel through the primary of the broadi cast transformer 21 tocontacts 54 and 55 on the weighted armature relay 42 of my invention. The circuit to the winding 43 of the weighted varmature relay 42 is also closed by the auxiliary relay 39 through spring 40 and ContactA! and as .previously described, the weighted armature relay 42 operates approximately eight timesV per second to cause a warning 1020 cycletone to be placed on the modulation circuit 2B of the broadcast station. This interrupted tone is held on the modulation circuit of the broadcast station as long as the operator at the distant control station holds his key I8 operated at dial position. After this tone has been held on the desired length of time the operator restores his key I8 to ,neutral position and the stepping switch 2|-22 restores itself to normal. The control operator by using key AI8 and dialy I8 as before, then dials .the broadcast number and the stepping switch `2&--22 functions to operate the primary and secondary relays to effect whatever functions they control, with leaf springs '-26 of spring y pile-up 24 contacting the contacts 35 and 35 as shown in Fig. 1, after which key i8 is restored .and the broadcast takes place.

In Figs. 4-9 I have shown more particularly the mechanical construction of the relay system of my invention. The relay is `-shown mounted upon any suitable base 63 by means of a bracket 64 secured to the base by suitable means 65. The `core structure 44 is provided with spool'head 66 formed, from insulation material andj recessed at'opposite sides-thereof forthe passage Aof lterminals' 61.v Winding insulators 68 and 69, blanked fromf hard rubber sheet, .free of acid and alkali, form end. members between which the turns of the operating winding 43 are Wound over the tubular base of. insulation material such as heavy empire cloth '10., The turns of winding 43 are protected by a wrapping of insulation mateA rial indicated at 1I.. .The slow operating control slug is indicated at 45 abutting againstthe disc'- like winding insulation 63. The slug 45 is generally formed from:copper'which is toroidal in shape 'and forms a solid short circuiting ringimmediately in the flux'of. the magnetic eldof winding 43' and introduces predetermined eddy current-,losses controlling the electrical time period of operation of the solenoid. The copper slug'45 is 'off-set suflicientlyfromthe end of the cere '44'to'allow the magneticlines from core 44 to readily thread the magneticrpath through the 4movable armature 48, the heavy duty bearingV member 12 and' the lmagnetic'frame 'i3 which is yintegral with the magnetic heelpiece 14 which is terial indicated at- 11 which center `the securing.

means 15 away from bracket 64. 'I'he apertures in bracket 64 for the'passage of terminals 61 are of such size as will permit the passage of terminals S1 "withoutcontact with bracket '64.

The armature 46 is centrally apertured at 18 for the passage of screw 19 which enters the end of weight 48, securing weightA 48 to the movable armature and thereby introducingr predetermined inertia in the movement of the armature.

y VWeight 48 is in the shape of an extended rod forming Aa lever arm which controls the angularvv movement of armature 46 about the pivot 41. `The pivot 41 comprises a rod member 8D which passes through the lugs 46a onarmature 4B and is journaledin the heavy duty sleeve bearings 8l which nt within the cylindrical recesses 12a in bearing member 12. These heavy duty bearings constitute self-lubricating means for journaling the armature which because of the rapid and repeating operation of the armature in this particular class of relay'require's a muchV more substantial bearingv than is customary. The bearing member 12 is recessed at 12hl andv is slotted at 12e, permitting the passage of screw' 82 therethrough and through yieldable washer 83.

yWasher 83 has a lug 83a thereon which extends 'I'hespring pile-assembly 50 is constituted by the leaf spring members and associated contacts as .heretofore explained where lthe leaf spring members are secured in stacked arrangement by means of screws 84 .which pass through top plate 85 and the insulation and spacer plates indilcated at 86 assembled on opposite sides of leaf springs 5|, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 as shown. The screws 84 also pass through .the plate member 81 which is provided with a stop arm 88 thereon which projects into the path of the lever arm 49 forming an abutment stop for lever arm 49 and thus limiting the normal unoperated position of armature 46 as shown in Fig. 4. The end of lever arm 49 has an upstanding pin 89 thereon forming a seat for an insulated button 98 which serves as the engagement means for the end of the lever arm with leaf spring 52. As indicated in Fig. 4 the insulated button 9|) normally rests against leaf spring 52, the contacts 5|a and 52a being closed while the ycontacts in the remaining portions of the spring pile-up assembly are open as represented in Fig. 4. However, in the energized conditions of the winding 43, armature 46 moves to the position shown in Fig. 5 opening contacts 5|a and 52a and closing the circuits between the contacts carried by the set of leaf springs constituted by 53 and 54 and also the set of contacts constituted by the leaf springs 55 and 56 by reason'of the coupled relation of the leaf springs through bushings 6| and 62 as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 8. It will be seen in referring particularly to Fig. 8 that insulated bushing 6| is firmly riveted to'leaf spring 53 while the somewhat longer bushing 62 is firmly riveted to leaf spring 55. Accordingly, movement iinparted through insulated button 90 to leaf spring 52 is transferred through couplings 6| and V6l to leaf springs 53 and 55. Thus the self-inter' rupting circuit to the winding 43 is functioned at the same time that the control circuit contacts in the spring pile-up are opened and closed.

I have found the relay structure of my invention very practical and successful in operation. 'I'he mass added by weight 48 provides the movable armature system with that amount of mechanical inertia which will coact with the electrical influence introduced by slug 45 to enable Y operating winding 43 while energized from a continuously applied source to cause the controlled circuit connected through sets of contact springs 53, 54, 55 and 56 to alternately connect and disconnect a source of control potential to the circuit to be controlled. The rate at which this control is applied is readily controllable by changing the character of slug 45 and the effective mass 48, schematically illustrated in Fig. l0,

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the effect of the slug 45 and the weight 48 on the movable armature. In Fig. 2 the curves illustrate the manner in which the flux density increases and decreases in the magnetic system according to time where the flux builds up during the make period of contacts 5| a and 52a and decreases to a condition where it commences to increase again before the flux cycle through the magnetic parts has l been completed. The influence of slug 45 in the example illustrated is such that the ux cycle .increases through a time period represented by a unit of time while the decrease in ux takes place over a fourth of the increase time. The self-in- .terruption effected bythe breaking of the circuit through winding 43 by contacts 5|a and 52a. produces a repetition of alternate increases and decreases of the flux cycle as illustrated. In or- -der to increase-the rate of make and break of the springv pile-up systemthe mass 48 is added to 4signalling system to a pile-up assembly for impressing energy from4 armature 46 with thek result shown in Fig. 3. The time period for initial build-up of the magnetic flux is now one unit of time compared to a tenth of the time for decrease of flux. The ux cycle is not completed but repeats in a series of -substantially saw-tooth curves as' indicated until the controlling current is removed. During this period the spring pile-up assembly is being functioned through a series of rapid repeating strokes and impresses thecharacteristic tone frequency from source 5l upon the load circuit or modulation circuit of the radio transmitter illustrated in Fig. 1. By proportioning the Vmass of the movable armature system and the arrangement of slug45 in the field of winding 43 a rate of make and break of eight times per second or other rate may be obtained.

I realize that various changes may be made in the relay arrangement and while I have described my invention in certain preferred embodiments, IV desire that it be understood that modifications may be made and I intend no limitation upon my invention other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. An electrical relay system comprising in combination with a line circuit, controlling means including a dial switch associated with said line circuit, a signalling system, a self-commutating relay having a winding, a movable armature and a spring pile-up assembly, an audio frequency source, connections from said source and said signalling system to a portion of said spring pile-up assembly for impressing energy from said source upon said signalling system, means associated with said relay for timing the periodicity of application of said source to said signalling system, relay means responsive to the operation of said dial switch for establishing a circuit between said relay Winding and said line circuit, and means independent of said dial switch for maintaining said line circuit closed over a selected time period for effecting successive repeat operations of said self commutating relay.

2. An electrical relay system comprising in combination with a line circuit, controlling means including a dial switch associated with said line circuit, a signalling system, a selfcommutating relay having a winding, a movable armature and a spring pile-up assembly, an audio frequency source, connections from said source and said signalling system to a portion of said spring pile-up assembly for impressing energy from said source upon said'signalling system, means mechanically associated with said movable armature for timing the periodicity of application of said source to said signaling system, relay means responsive to the operation of said dial switch for 'establishing a circuit between said relay winding and said line circuit, and means independent of said dial switch for maintaining said line circuit closed over a selected -time period for effecting successive repeat operacombination with a line circuit, controlling means including a dial switchassociated with saidline circuit, a signaling system, a self-commutating relay having awinding, a movable armature and a spring pile-up assembly, an audio frequency source, connections from said source and said portion of said spring said source-upon saidgsignalling. system, means magneticallyn associated with ,said winding for timing the periodicity of application of Vsaid source tosaidsignalling system, relay means responsive to the operation of said dial switch for establishing 'acircuit' between said relay winding and said linecircuit, and means independent of said dial switch for maintainingsaid line circuit closed over a selected time 1period. for effecting successive repeat operations of said self commutating relay.

4. An electrical relay system comprising in combination with a line circuit, controlling means including a dial switch associated with said line circuit, a signalling system, a self-commutating relay having a winding, a movable armature and a spring pile-up assembly, an audio frequency source, connections from said source and said signalling system to a portion of said spring pileup assembly for impressing energy from said source upon said signalling system, means mechanically associated with said movable armature and cooperative means magnetically associated with said winding for timing the periodicity of application of said source to said signalling system, relay means responsive to the operation of said dial switch for establishing a circuit between said relay winding and said line circuit, and means independent of said dial switch for maintaining said line circuit closed over a selected time period for effecting successive repeat operations of said self commutating relay.

5. An electric relay system comprising in combination, a controlling circuit, a relay having a magnetic core structure, a movable armature, a winding controlled by said controlling circuit, means for determining the inertia of said armature in proportion to the magnetization of said core structure for inducing a characteristic movement in said armature, a spring pile-up assembly including a multiplicity of sets of spring contact members, one set of said members being electrically connected in series with said winding and said controlling circuit, means on said armature for controlling the making and breaking of each of the sets of spring contact members in accordance with the characteristic movement of said armature and the operation of said sets of contact members, a source of control potential of predetermined characteristics, a load circuit,

connections from said source of control potential and said load circuit to said other sets of spring contact members for impressing said control potential upon said load circuit at a rate determined by the opening and closing of said first mentioned set of spring contact members, and means located at a control position in said controlling circuit for selectively closing the circuit through said winding for effecting recycling of said relay over a selected time period.

6. An electric relay system comprising in combination a controlling circuit, a relay having a magnetic core structure, a movable armature, a winding controlled by said controlling circuit, a

spring pile-up assembly including a multiplicity of sets of spring contact members, one set of said members being electrically connected in series with said winding and said controlling circuit, means associated with said movable armature for regulating the inertia thereof and inducing a characteristic movement in said armature, means extending from said armature for effecting the making and breaking of each of the sets of spring Contact members in accordance with the characteristic movement of the armature, .a source ,of control `potential of predetermined characteristics, a-.loadcircuit, connections fromjsaid sourcefof controlpotential and said load circuit tozsaidother. sets of spring contact members for impressing said control Ipotential upon saidload circuit atea. rate determined by the opening and closing of said iirst mentioned set of lspring contact members, and means located iat a control position in said vcontrolling circuit for selectively closing the circuit through said winding for effecting recycling of said relay over a selected time period. v

7. An electric relay system comprising in combination, a controlling circuit, a relay having a magnetic core structure, a movable armature, a winding controlled by said controlling circuit, a spring pile-up assembly including a multiplicity of sets of spring contact members, one set of said members being electrically connected in series with said winding and said controlling circuit, means disposed in the eld of the magnetic flux of said winding for controlling the instantaneous net flux produced by the magnetic eld of said Winding and the corresponding influence thereof to induce a characteristic movement in said armature, means extending from said armature for effecting the making and breaking of each of the sets of spring contact members in accordance with the characteristic movement of said armature, a source of control potential of predetermined characteristics, a load circuit, connections from said source of control potential and said load circuit to said other sets of spring contact members for impressing said control potential upon said load circuit at a rate determined by the opening and closing of said rst mentioned set of spring contact members, and means located at a control position in said controlling circuit for selectively closing the circuit through said winding for effecting recycling of said relay over a selected time period.

8. An electric relay system comprising in combination, a controlling circuit, a relay having a magnetic core structure, a movable armature, a winding controlled by said controlling circuit, a spring pile-up assembly including a multiplicity of sets of spring contact members, one set of said members being electrically connected in series with said winding and said controlling circuit, means disposed in the field of said winding for controlling the instantaneous net value of the magnetic flux in said winding, means associated with said movable armature for regulating the inertia thereof in proportion to said magnetic flux for inducing a characteristic movement of said armature under control of said Winding, means extending from said armature for functioning said spring pile-up assembly for controlling the making and breaking of each of the sets of spring contact members, a source of control potential of predetermined characteristics, a load circuit, connections from said source of control potential and said load circuit to said other sets of spring contact members for impressing said control potential upon said load circuit at a rate determined by the opening and closing of said first mentioned set of spring contact members, and means located at a control position in said controlling circuit for selectively closing the circuit through said winding for effecting recycling of said relay over a selected time period.

9. An electrical relay system comprising in combination with a line circuit, controlling means associated with said line circuit, a signalling sysstituting a Weighted lever arm for determining 10 the inertia of said armature' in proportion to the magnetizationY of said relayv for inducing a characteristic periodic movement of said armature an'd'timing the periodicity of application of said source to said signalling system, and means 1ocated in a control position in said line circuit for selectiely vclosing said line circuit through said Winding for eiecting recycling of said relay over a selected time period.

' CARL P. CLARE. 

